Motor boat structure



July 19, 1960 L. L. SHELTON MOTOR BOAT STRUCTURE Filed March 15 1957INVENTOR. Lufher L. .fi/re/fo/r A TOR/V MOTOR BOAT STRUCTURE Luther L.Shelton, Kansas City, Mo., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, toIndustrial Research Company, Kansas City, Mo., a partnership Filed Mar.15, 1957, Ser. No. 646,299

1 Claim. (Cl. 114-62) This invention relates to boats and particularly,improvements in the hull of small water craft commonly propelled by anoutboard motor.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to control theflow of water beneath the boat and thereby minimize drag or waterresistance whereby to improve upon maneuverability as well as todecrease the power requirements of the motor.

An important object of the instant invention is to provide a boat havinga longitudinal, downwardly-facing groove throughout the length of thebottom of the hull for directing the flow of water to the center of theboat in lieu of forcing such water outwardly as in conventionalconstructions.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a novel bow fora boat of the aforementioned character that cooperates with the mediangroove in attaining the said desired advantages by virtue of theinclined, arcuate configuration thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of motor boat structure made pursuant tothe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken on line IIII ofFigure 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line III-III ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed plan view showing one corner of theforwardmost and uppermost end of the boat.

The boat shown in the drawing and chosen for illustration of theimprovements of the instant invention includes an elongated, open tophull broadly designated by the numeral 10. The hull includes as itsessential components a pair of sides 12 and 14, a stem 16, a bottom 18and a bow 20. As seen in Fig. 3, it is to be preferred that the sides 12and 14 be longitudinally straight but slightly arched or bowedoutwardly, whereas stern 16 and bow 20 both slope upwardly and outwardlyas the uppermost edge 22 is approached (see Fig. 2).

The bottom 18 has a unique cross-sectional configuration as seen in Fig.3 in that it is longitudinally corrugated. More specifically, the bottom18 is provided with a cross-sectional contour that has substantially theshape nits States Fatent O ice of an ogee, presenting a median,downwardly-facing, longitudinal groove 24 coextensive in length with thebottom 18. Such configuration presents ribs 26, 28 and 30, each of whichis convex-o-concave, the upwardly bowed median rib 28 rising above thedownwardly bowed ribs 26 and 30, and all the ribs being longitudinallystraight.

The bow 20 cooperates with the groove 24 in accomplishing the desiredresults in that said how 20 is transversely arcuate and merges with thebottom 18 at the lowermost and rearmost end of the bow 20. Suchconfiguration presents an arcuate, uppermost and forwardmost edge 32,the ends whereof are bridged by a motor mount 34. Suitable brackets orother fastening means 36 extending forwardly from the side walls 12 and14 at the zones of merger between the bow 20 and the sides 12 and 14 atedge '32, serve to support the motor mount 34. Outboard motor 38 ofconventional construction may be easily clamped in place in the mannerillustrated by Figure 1. 7

As above indicated, when the boat is placed in use, water flowingtherebeneath is controlled by the groove 24 in that such water is pulledinto the bow 20 and caused to flow freely along groove 24 beneath theboat. This is to be distinguished from conventional constructionswherein the water is forced laterally in opposite directions beyond thesides of the boat as the result of movement of the bow into the waterwhich, of course, presents an uncontrolled drag or water resistance onthe bottom thereof.

The motor 38 is swingable about a horizontal axis 40 in the usual mannerand, therefore, the above-described novel shape and configuration of thebow 20 is advantageous further in that it clears the propeller shafthousing 42 as the latter swings rearwardly into the concavity of the bow20 when the propeller (not shown) strikes an obstruction or the bottomof the lake or stream in shallow waters.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

- A boat comprising an elongated, open top hull having a bottom providedwith a median, downwardly-facing, longitudinal groove of constant depththroughout the length thereof, and a transversely convexo-concave bowwall extending upwardly and forwardly from the forwardmost end of saidbottom, the lowermost face of said bow being substantially concavetransversely thereof, and substantially the same width as thelongitudinal groove; and a motor mount bridging the uppermost andforwardmost ends of the bow.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS23,105 Montgomery Mar. 1, 1859 376,517 Daniels Jan. 17, 1888 652,876Andrade July 3, 1900 2,593,806 Steele Apr. 22, 1952

